Qualifications of Members of Congress

The Constitution requires that
U.S. senators must be at least 30
years of age, citizens of the United States for at least nine
years, and residents of the states from which they are elected.
Members of the House of Representatives must be at least 25,
citizens for seven years, and residents of the states which send
them to Congress. The states may set additional requirements for
election to Congress, but the Constitution gives each house the
power to determine the qualifications of its members.

Each state is entitled to two senators. Thus, Rhode Island, the
smallest state, with an area of about 3,156 square kilometers has
the same senatorial representation as Alaska, the biggest state,
with an area of some 1,524,640 square kilometers. Wyoming, with
490,000 persons in 1987, has representation equal to that of
California, with its 1987 population of 27,663,000.

The total number of members of the House of Representatives has
been determined by Congress. That number is then divided among
the states according to their populations. Regardless of its
population, every state is constitutionally guaranteed at least
one member of the House of Representatives. At present, six
states -- Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont
and Wyoming -- have only one representative. On the other hand,
six states have more than 20 representatives -- California alone
has 45.

The Constitution provides for a national census each 10 years and
a redistribution of House seats according to population shifts.
Under the original constitutional provision, the number of
representatives was to be no more than one for each 30,000
citizens. There were 65 members in the first House, and the
number was increased to 106 after the first census. Had the
one-to-30,000 formula been adhered to permanently, population
growth in the United States would have brought the total number
of representatives to about 7,000. Instead, the formula has been
adjusted over the years, and today the House is composed of 435
members, roughly one for each 530,000 persons in the United
States.

State legislatures divide the states into congressional
districts, which must be substantially equal in population.
Every two years, the voters of each district choose a
representative for Congress.

Senators are chosen in statewide elections held in even-numbered
years. The senatorial term is six years, and every two years
one-third of the Senate stands for election. Hence, two-thirds
of the senators are always persons with some legislative
experience at the national level.

It is theoretically possible for the House to be composed
entirely of legislative novices. In practice, however, most
members are reelected several times and the House, like the
Senate, can always count on a core group of experienced
legislators.

Since members of the House serve two-year terms, the life of a
Congress is considered to be two years. The 20th Amendment
provides that the Congress will meet in regular session each
January 3, unless Congress fixes a different date. The Congress
remains in session until its members vote to adjourn -- usually
late in the year. The president may call a special session when
he or she thinks it necessary. Sessions are held in the Capitol
in Washington, D.C.